ThisbookmayofferacautionarytaleintheageofCovid-19.Thenarrativesweshapearounddiseaseinsocietyaresooftenaboutpolitics,andthecompetingversionsofleprosyeradication’sstoryarenoexception.Inonetelling,theextra-budgetaryfundingforanti-leprosyworkcamewithunwarrantedinterferenceintheWHOprogram,resultinginanover-hasty,acrimoniousandultimatelyunsuccessfuleliminationcampaign.Inanotherinterpretation,agreatworkoftwentieth-centurydiseasecontrolwasaccomplished,throughextraordinaryphilanthropy,visionarycourageousness,andwilyandpragmaticdiplomacy.Inyetanother,experienced,self-sacrificinganti-leprosyexpertsrefusedtoabdicatetheirprofessionalresponsibilitiestopopulistcampaignsmoreconcernedwithstatisticsthanpeople,whichwereriskingpatients’healthwithunder-trialeddrugtherapiesandirresponsiblyentrustingmedicationtopatientswithoutsupervision.Noneofthesebureaucratic,triumphalistorelitistnarrativesexistsindependentlyoftheothers.Noneiswithoutcredit,andnoneistothecompletecreditofallinvolved.Thesecompetingstoriesofferuncannyresonancesintheongoingpoliticsofpublichealth,whichhaveonlyintensifiedsinceboththeemergenceofM.Lepraemillenniaago,andtheconcertedcampaignagainstitinthelastseventyyears.Whatcouldthe’storiesofleprosy’tellusaboutourpandemicresponse?
LEPROSY CAMPAIGN INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCED
